They're everywhere — baby wipes, makeup wipes, personal hygiene wipes — and many of them proudly claim to be "flushable" right on the label. It sounds convenient. But plumbers, sewer workers, and property managers across the country will tell you the same thing: those wipes should never go down the toilet.

At Bilbrey Property Management, we want our residents to have the best possible rental experience — and that includes clear, honest information about how to take care of your home. This is one of the most common and most preventable causes of plumbing problems we see, so it's worth taking a few minutes to understand why.

What "Flushable" Actually Means

Here's the thing: the word "flushable" on a package simply means the wipe can be flushed without immediately clogging your toilet. It says nothing about what happens to that wipe after it leaves your bowl.

Toilet paper is specifically engineered to break apart rapidly in water. Within seconds of being flushed, it begins to disintegrate. Wipes — even those labeled flushable — are made from synthetic fibers that are far more durable. They hold their shape in water because that durability is exactly what makes them useful as a wipe in the first place.

"Toilet paper dissolves. Wipes don't. That single difference is responsible for millions of dollars in plumbing damage every year."

What Happens Inside Your Pipes

After you flush, wipes travel through your unit's plumbing and eventually reach the building's main drain lines. Along the way, they encounter grease, soap residue, and other waste that naturally coats the inside of pipes. Unlike toilet paper, wipes don't break down — they snag, catch, and accumulate.

Over time, this buildup creates what plumbers call a "fatberg" — a dense, stubborn mass of wipes, grease, and debris that can completely block a drain line. These blockages don't just affect the person who flushed the wipe. Because plumbing systems are shared in multi-unit buildings, a single clogged drain can back up into neighboring units, cause sewage to surface in unexpected places, and require emergency repairs that take hours to fix.

The Real Costs

Clearing a wipe-related blockage isn't cheap. Depending on how deep in the system the clog has formed, repairs can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Emergency plumbing calls — which are often necessary when sewage is backing up — carry premium rates.

Beyond the financial cost, there's the inconvenience: residents may lose access to their plumbing while repairs are made, and sewage backups can cause real damage to personal property and flooring.

In cases where a clog can be traced back to wipes, lease agreements may hold the responsible resident liable for repair costs. It's genuinely not worth the risk.

⚠️ Did you know?

Municipal sewer systems in cities across the U.S. spend an estimated $1 billion per year dealing with wipe-related clogs in public sewer lines — and the problem in private building plumbing is just as significant.

What to Do Instead

The solution is simple, and it takes about thirty seconds to implement: keep a small, lidded waste bin next to your toilet. Any wipes — regardless of what their packaging claims — go in the bin, not the bowl. Empty it regularly just like any other bathroom trash.

✓ Do This

  • Place a small trash bin with a lid next to the toilet
  • Dispose of all wipes in the bin — including "flushable" ones
  • Only flush toilet paper
  • Report any slow drains promptly so we can address them early

✗ Avoid This

  • Flushing wipes of any kind, even if labeled "flushable"
  • Flushing paper towels, tissues, or cotton rounds
  • Ignoring a slow or gurgling drain
  • Flushing feminine hygiene products

A Note on Slow Drains

If you notice your toilet is draining slowly, making unusual sounds, or water is backing up anywhere in your unit, please submit a maintenance request right away. Slow drains are often the first warning sign of a developing blockage. Catching it early almost always means a quicker, less expensive fix — and it protects everyone in the building.

You can submit a maintenance request anytime through the Resident Portal.

Thank You for Doing Your Part

We know this might seem like a small thing, but the impact is real. Residents who take a moment to form this habit help protect not just their own plumbing but the whole building's system — and that helps keep maintenance costs down for everyone. We appreciate your cooperation, and as always, we're here if you have any questions.